Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-22
PICKETTS CHARGE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ACCOUNT
BY GEN. DEYEaEAUX.
and the Tammany Regiment
Behaved in the Charge.

seminary ridge opened IN one grand salvO
with concentric fire on Gibbons division.
The shot from that signal gun struck Lieu
tenant Sherman s. Robinson. Of the Nine
teenth Massachusetts, cutting his BODY
nearly in two, killing him instantly From
this time on for nearly two hours the roar
ing of the cannon and bursting of shells
from both sides was so incessant that the
ear could not distinguish individual ex-
plosions. 1t was one grand raging crash
Of ceaseless sound.
The firing of cannon ceased almost as
suddenly as it began, and Picketts splen-
did division moved out to cross the inter
val between the two low living ridges
occupied by the opposing armies, on that
magnificent charge which has ext0rted the
admiration unqualified, of their foes, must
ever be memorable in history, and which
won the position aimed for but could not
hold 1t. The story of this grand effort has
been many times repeated, and | shall
limit myself to the relation of what oc-
CURED after Pickett had crossed the En-
metsburg pike aud came sweeping up the
slope, still carrying everything before him
as if borne forward by all-ruling fate. The
knoll bearing the historic Little Oak
grove slopes off well toward the south and
east. From the left of my line two de-
tached regiments of Halls brigade) Colonel
Mallon and myself had a view which corr
passed a good deal of the ground even
directly in front Of that elevation
Standing there, looking on the grand
array Of that majestic charge, was it mere
impulse that stirred me to move forward
my men nearer yet to that Single Line
OF Blue p Or was it prompting from
higher source that determined the action?
One can only tell when all secrets are uu-
yelled. However, it was done. Plain it
was that We could not escape some part of
the tragedy to follow. 1t might be a des-
perate one and what was the material
upon which reliance must be placed to
meet and perform the duty? The Nine
teenth Massachusetts had been trained
from the start in discipline as stern as
that of Cromwells lronsides" Never
theless, II had never come within the
range of my experience to know body Of
troops where mutual confidence of officers
and men existed in higher degree.
To-day the Nineteenth Massachusetts
has with it the Forty second New York,
Tammany's contribution to the country's
cause. In them was all the traditional
fun and fight, Paddy's heritage which
centuries of oppression cannot rob him of
nor repress. They were in excellent con
dition under the firm rule of Mallon.
Colonel Mallon and myself could view the
whole scene, standing up as we were, and
were probably the only persons close
enough readily to distinguish all which
occurred, and so entirely free from personal
participation rs to be able intelligently to
Judge it. We see that Webb cannot firmly
hold his men against the shock of that
fierce charge, though he may throw him
self with reckless courage in front to face
the storm, and beg, threaten and command
Halls right, overlapped, has to sag back
with sullen fury, swaying to the rear from
the pressure, but swaying forward again
like ocean Surges against a rock This
creates disorder, heightened by the men of
Harrow's brigade surging also in that
direction, apparently without orders or
concert, but guided by some instinct of
hurrying to the rescue Everything was
in confusion, regimentaI order was lost.
ranks were eight or ten deep, pushing
swaying, struggling, refusing TO yield, but
almost impotent for good A great gap
yawns Immediately between Webb and
Hall. The entire width of the oak grove
aud for some distance to the right IS
stripped of defense on our line. Every gun
on our front there is slenced. Woodruff
Cushing, Brown, Rorty and every other
commissioned officer, almost without ex-
ception, of the respective batteries, is dead
or disabled and Gibbon badly wounded.
Was this devoted Second Corps, whose
proud boast it was that it never lost a gun
or 4 color" to succumo at last?
MallOu, we must move" Just then 4
headlong rush of horses feet, spurred to
the utmost, came up to the hollow behind
from the direction Of the Baltimore-pike.
| turned. There looking the very en-
bodiment Of the god of war, rode Hancock,
the Superb" | shouted as he nearly
tramPled on my men, sill lying down and
as yet unseen by him. lie threw his
horse on his launches "See," | cried.
their color5; they have broken through
Let me get in there" His characteristic
answer fitted time and place, and he shot
llNC I'LL IL lON past illl ttil ttNdTON Ian
struggling lines, receiving in few seconds
the wound that swept him from his saddle
and so nearly cost him his life. Mean
while Mallon, springing from my side vas
instantly with his men, and both regiments
on the double quick moved side by side to
ill that fearful gap.
The two lines came together with a
shock which stopped both and caused
slight rebound. For several minutes they
faced and fred into each other at a dis
lance (Which ] carefully measured after
the fight little short of fifteen PAGES.
Everything seemed trembling Ia the bal
auce. Whichever side could get motion
forward must surely win. General Alex
ander S. Webb couldn't see. Just then
| felt rather than saw Hall, as he appeared
at my side. We are steady now he
said. "Sure; but we must move" | re-
piled. At the instant I man broke through
my lines and thrust a rebel flag into my
hand. He never said word and darted
back. 1t was Corporal Joseph II. De
Castro, one of my color bearers. He had
knocked down a color bearer in the
enemy's line with the staffof the Massachu-
sets State coiors, seized the falling flag and
dashed with it to me- Mallon had by this
time wrapped round the right of the
grove little. The opposing lines were
standing as if rooted, dealing death
into each other, how long it is impossible
to say with exactness. There they stood
and wouldn't move.
All of a sudden strange, resistless I'M
pulse seemed to urge the Union men. |
can compare it only to a Titan's stride.
Our lines seemed to actually leap forward.
There was at once an indescribable rush of
thick, hurrying scenes. | held the blunted
apex of the re-cntering angle, which was
the appearance made by our lines. A yell.
4 shout. My line seemed to open as if by
magic. Ii was not flight, however A
food of unarmed, defenseless men poured
through. They almost ran over me- The
remnant Of Pickett's gallant men abandon
that nearly invincible charge, and Gettys-
burg translated reads, "a Nation Saved"
Magazine Of american History
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